Based on the true life experiences of poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, the film focuses on step-brothers Paco and Cruz, and their bi-racial cousin Miklo. It opens in 1972, as the three are members of an East L.A. gang known as the "Vatos Locos", and the story focuses on how a violent crime and the influence of narcotics alter their lives. Miklo is incarcerated and sent to San Quentin, where he makes a "home" for himself. Cruz becomes an exceptional artist, but a heroin addiction overcomes him with tragic results. Paco becomes a cop and an enemy to his "carnal", Miklo.
No special effects nor prosthetics were used on Damian Chapa ( Miklos ) leg. In fact, A stunt double, who looked almost identical and had a prosthetic leg was used during the camera angles. Their are several times throughout the movie where Miklos hair is darker and thicker in which case its when the stunt double is filling in. One scene in particular, when the AV'rs take Miklos leg and are disrespecting him, when he falls on the floor and drags himself, you can clearly tell it's not Damian Chapa. See more »
Goofs
When Miklo shoots Spider, he falls down a hill, and lands dead on the road, in the first scene his arms are at his sides, in the second scene his arms are stretched above his head, then back at his side again. See more »
Quotes
Montana:
What do you want?
Miklo:
I thought you wanted it.
Montana:
What?
Miklo:
My chop.
Montana:
I don't want his pork chop.
[grabs apple from Milko's tray]
Montana:
I want his life.
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Crazy Credits
"The bloody era of prison gang warfare, which characterized much of California's prison system during the decade depicted in this film, is now under control." See more »
Alternate Versions
The VHS and Laserdisc versions of this movie have subtitles for some of the Spanish words and phrases. These are completely absent from the DVD. They aren't even in the subtitles. See more »
Cafe
Written by Arcalio Garcia, Pablo Tellez and Jorge Santana
Performed by Malo
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc.
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products See more »
User Reviews
great story, nice and long so one can enjoy it more than the average flick
i believe that is one of the better movies ever to come out. a truly amazing story of what life can entail between brothers and how the choices you make defines your direction in life. OK, one might argue that it is rather cheap in the budgetary sense and consequently not a respectable director nor actors are in it makes the flick only more interesting. The acting is however quite good and the prisoners are more than realistic. In other words it gives a nice insight in US (prison-gang)life. On top of that i personally am a great fan of true stories as this is. it is a shame that bad distribution has not given this the place in movie history that it deserves.
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i believe that is one of the better movies ever to come out. a truly amazing story of what life can entail between brothers and how the choices you make defines your direction in life. OK, one might argue that it is rather cheap in the budgetary sense and consequently not a respectable director nor actors are in it makes the flick only more interesting. The acting is however quite good and the prisoners are more than realistic. In other words it gives a nice insight in US (prison-gang)life. On top of that i personally am a great fan of true stories as this is. it is a shame that bad distribution has not given this the place in movie history that it deserves.